LANSING - Two House bills (HB 4862 & HB 4863) that would merge substance abuse and mental health services under one agency has some critics worried that treatment for addiction could become too cookie-cutter.

But supporters say the move should save administrative costs and make it easier for people with addictions to get mental health services if they need them. Rep. Kate Segal D-Battle Creek, says right now if a client comes in for substance abuse they may not get mental health services.

“If they get referred to an agency serving people with mental illness, they may not (physically) make it to the mental healthcare provider. This way we can streamline the system and provide them with both mental health and substance abuse services.”

But not everyone who has addiction problems also needs mental health care, according to George Miller, director of Health and Human Services for Oakland County.

Miller says in his county only about 21-percent of the substance abuse clients also have mental health issues severe enough to get state services. He says what the legislature is doing is creating a cookie cutter approach to treating addicts and people with mental illness.

“The legislation assumes that substance abuse is a form of mental illness,” Says Miller. “But substance disorders are very unique and require very specialized treatment that mental health care providers may not be trained in.”

State Representative Earl Poleski, R-Jackson, sponsored the legislation and says it will also save the state money by eliminating duplicative administrative services.

“There is a concern that with multiple agencies serving the folks, the potential for overlapping service or gaps in service is greater. And with the administrative savings, we could put those dollars back into their care, and service those folks better.”

“Because the dollars for substance abuse has been so severely cut, I wouldn’t want them to cut them any further. Because when it comes to funding, mental health services is the big dog and substance abuse is the little sister.”

The house Health Policy committee will continue taking public comment on the proposals.